Posted by Beer OpatsuwanComments Off on 1st report – June to September 2016 with Electricity North West Limited (United Kingdom)

Dec052016

During the first quarter of my E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship (June to September 2016), I commenced a work placement with Electricity North West Limited’s (ENWL) Asset Management Business Unit to explore the subject of Asset Management Excellence. ENWL is a leading electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO), one of six DNOs based in the UK.

My experience thus far has enabled me to gain a better appreciation of ENWL’s state-of-the-art asset management systems and innovative practices. The experience has given me insights into how the principles of ISO55001 international standards can be effectively adopted and integrated into the business to increase the company’s productivity and efficiency.

My report here covers the key learning through project works, observations, and interviews with leaders across ENWL. Specifically, the following aspects are covered:

Introduction to ENWL’s business operations and their flagship projects.

Project work on the implementation of the common network asset indices methodology and asset management of low voltage underground switchboard (safety driven).

Extra-curricular activities relevant to the scholarship plan.

I welcome any feedback or questions regarding my report and the future direction of my scholarship placement.

Posted by Matthew ZillmannComments Off on Final Report for E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship

Sep062016

My tenure on the E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship was focused on understanding how leading utilities are working to best optimise expenditure in asset management. During my 18 months on the Scholarship I worked in the UK at UK Power Networks and the USA at Commonwealth Edison, which has culminated in the publication of this final report (PDF, 3.76 MB).

I welcome any questions on this report or my time on the scholarship and I can be contacted:

Posted by Matthew ZillmannComments Off on 6th report for the E.S. Cornwall Scholarship – third 3 months with Commonwealth Edison

Sep052016

Over the past quarter*, my sixth on the E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship (1st February 2016 to 6th May 2016), I have continued my placement with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) based in the Smart Grid and Technology team. During this time I have been focused on:

Research into microgrid ownership models, policies, incentive schemes, and deployment within the USA;

Finalization of the distributed generation hosting capacity assessment tool that I developed over my nine months with ComEd; and

Development of ComEd’s System Power Quality Strategy, that discusses ComEd’s approach to identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating power quality issues.

Posted by Matthew ZillmannComments Off on 5th report for the E.S. Cornwall Scholarship – second 3 months with Commonwealth Edison

Mar292016

Over the past quarter, my fifth on the E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship (1st November 2015 to 31st January 2016), I have continued my placement with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) based in the Smart Grid and Technology team.

During this time I have been focused on:

The continued development and implementation of a modelling algorithm to quantify the distributed generation hosting capacity of ComEd’s network; and

Planning for the Bronzeville Community Microgrid, a project that would see the development of a microgrid to supply a number of critical facilities, infrastructure and customers within the South Chicago community of Bronzeville.

In early March I attended ComEd’s 2016 Engineering Conference, where I presented a poster (here – PDF 907kB) detailing my work on the distributed generation hosting capacity assessment tool.

This Engineering Conference provides ComEd’s engineers an opportunity to showcase a selection of the interesting projects and research being undertaken across the company.

The 2016 conference was attended by representatives from ComEd, BG&E, PECO, the Illinois Commerce Commission, Argonne National Labs, and local universities (like the Illinois Institute of Technology) and businesses.

Posted by Matthew ZillmannComments Off on 4th report for the E.S. Cornwall Scholarship – first 3 months with Commonwealth Edison

Feb022016

During my fourth quarter on the E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship (17th August 2015 to 31st October 2015) I have started my placement with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), the transmission and distribution network owner for northern Illinois.

While at ComEd I will be working with the Smart Grid and Technology team. My work over the past quarter has been focused on developing a modelling algorithm to quantify the ability of ComEd’s distribution network to accommodate distributed generation. This metric, termed “distributed generation hosting capacity”, has been an area of focus for many industry leading research institutions like the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). As a part of my work I have combined a number of analysis techniques spanning network modelling, Monte Carlo simulation, and “big data” analysis to develop at technique that can automatically analyse a large number of distribution feeders.

Following from this, the University of Queensland received perhaps the largest number of applicants for the scholarship in recent memory. A significant proportion of these applicants were of high quality.

As such, the selection process has taken a number of months to complete. At the end of this process, two scholarships have been awarded – both of 9 months duration – as follows:

Posted by Matthew ZillmannComments Off on Third report for the E.S. Cornwall Scholarship – final 3 months with UK Power Networks

Jul202015

During my third and final quarter with UK Power Networks (1st March 2015 to 31st May 2015) I have undertaken placements with the Network Design Standards team and Future Networks team. My work within these groups have provided me with an understanding of:

UKPN’s application of the IPEC online partial discharge monitoring tool, which is used in proactively identifying and locating faults on HV switchgear and cables.

Undertaking large scale data analysis to assist in understanding and improving network reliability.

My work with the Element Energy Load Growth and Imperial College London Load Related Expenditure model have given me a working experience with these models, while highlighting their importance in understaning and quantifying future network challenges. In contrast my, experience with online partial discharge monitoring has highlighted some of the opportunities and challenges of partial discharge monitoring and its use in managing ageing assets.

Posted by Simon BartlettComments Off on Prestigious Cornwall Scholarship now open to Queensland engineering graduates

Jun172015

Applications are now being called for one of Queensland’s most prestigious and longstanding scholarships that provides up to 18 months overseas work experience for young power engineers, the E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded every two years in memory of Edward Satchwell Cornwall who, in the first half of the 20th Century, was a highly influential member of the Queensland energy industry and a strong advocate of tertiary education and professional development for engineers working in the power industry. Further history is here.

Engineering graduates from all Queensland universities are now eligible to apply for the E.S. Cornwall Scholarship. Preference is given to applicants with 3 to 5 years’ experience in the power industry.

Chair of the Scholarship Advisory Committee, Professor Simon Bartlett at UQ, is a former scholarship recipient himself and said that

“The scholarship provides young engineers with invaluable experience in the global power industry and is a life changing experience, both career-wise and personally.”

“In addition to technical ability, the Committee is looking for a young engineer who demonstrates initiative and thorough planning as well as leadership ability and who would benefit from overseas work experience.”

Head of the power and energy systems group at The University of Queensland, Professor Tapan Saha, said:

“the E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship provided an outstanding opportunity for a young engineer to learn from overseas best practice in areas of key importance to the Queensland power industry.”

The scholarship recipient receives $3,500 per month (on top of their overseas engineering salary), for up to 18 months to pursue a program of work that typically consists of employment with several overseas electricity utilities, a manufacturing company or research organisation, and could cover study for a higher degree with a leading overseas university.

The first E.S. Cornwall Scholarship was awarded in 1957 and since then, it has been awarded to a total of 26 individuals, many of whom now hold (or have held) senior positions within the electricity industry.

The scholarship took its current recipient, Matthew Zillmann (a UQ graduate working for Ergon Energy) to the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States – where he has been investigating innovative asset management practices used by leading distribution networks.

“My program has already enabled me to gain experience with UK Power Networks in London, participate in international technical forums in Europe and visit research institutions in Germany”,

Matthew says from Chicago, where he has just commenced 9 months employment with Commonwealth Edison. He continues:

“The opportunity provided by the scholarship has been life changing, both professionally and personally. As I look to the opportunities and challenges ahead in my career, I hold this experience and what it has taught me in the highest regard. It already is and will continue to be one of the highlights of my career.”

Applications for the E.S. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship close on 31 July 2015.